Claude Duet is Anthropic's new proactive AI agent: an app that sends you a morning brief, watches your connected apps and works on tasks in its own cloud computer, asking before it sends, pays, signs or deletes anything. Anthropic opened a research preview on 21 October 2026 for Claude Pro ($20 a month, about £15) and Max subscribers in the US only, through a waitlist. As of 23 October 2026 you cannot get Claude Duet in the UK, and Anthropic has given no UK date. UK readers can get close today with Claude's scheduled tasks, Claude Code or a self-hosted agent such as OpenClaw; our personal AI assistant guide compares the options.
Key facts
- What it is: A proactive AI agent app that briefs you, watches your apps and works in its own cloud computer
- Made by: Anthropic (US); research preview from 21 October 2026
- Price: Included in Claude Pro ($20 a month, about £15) and Max (from $100, about £75) during the preview
- Free plan or trial: No
- Runs on: iPhone, Android and claude.ai on the web; powered by Claude Opus 5.5
- Open source: No
- Available in the UK: No, as of 23 October 2026 (US only, by waitlist)
- Best for: US professionals and small business owners already paying for Claude
- Official site: claude.com/product/claude-duet
On this page
- What is Claude Duet?
- What can Claude Duet do?
- Can you get Claude Duet in the UK?
- How much does Claude Duet cost?
- Claude Duet vs ChatGPT Dots, Meta Muse and Grok Bot
- Is Claude Duet safe? Privacy, permissions and UK GDPR
- What people say about Claude Duet on Reddit and X
- How many people can use Claude Duet?
- Frequently asked questions
What is Claude Duet?
Claude Duet is a standalone app from Anthropic in which Claude works as a proactive agent instead of waiting for you to start a chat. Anthropic opened the research preview on 21 October 2026, built on Claude Opus 5.5, for professionals and small business owners "with more on their plates than they can track".
In the words of Anthropic's launch announcement, Claude Duet "comes to you with what needs your attention, completes tasks you ask of it, keeps working even when you step away, and checks with you before it acts on your behalf".
The difference from the normal Claude app is who moves first: "The Claude app waits for you to open a chat", says the product page, while Claude Duet "comes to you". It carries over the memory, skills and connected apps from your Claude account, but for now it lives in its own app.
Claude Duet is an app for iPhone and Android. On a computer, including a Mac, you open it on the web at claude.ai; Anthropic mentions no separate desktop app. The work happens on a virtual machine with its own browser in Anthropic's cloud, so your laptop or phone can be off. If you searched for "Anthropic Duet", this is the same product.
Anthropic's official 1 minute 39 second introduction, posted on the Claude YouTube channel on 21 October 2026, presents Claude Duet as an app that comes to you with what needs your attention and keeps working after you put your phone down.
What can Claude Duet do?
Claude Duet does three main jobs, according to Anthropic's announcement of 21 October 2026: it sends a short brief every morning, checks your connected apps every few hours and messages you only when something needs you, and takes on bigger tasks such as dashboards, decks, financial forecasts and simple web apps.
- Morning brief. It looks across your email and calendar, picks what most needs you and can start drafting replies, says Anthropic's help article.
- Background work. Describe a task and it picks the apps. Finished files, such as a financial model, deck or dashboard, appear in a Make tab; a Tasks tab shows progress.
- Your apps. Anthropic says it can use the over 6,000 connectors and plugins in the Claude Marketplace, including Gmail, Slack, QuickBooks, Stripe, HubSpot, Docusign and Shopify, plus its own cloud browser for other sites.
- Buying for the business. It can pay with Link, Stripe's wallet, or Shop Pay, asking before each purchase and using a one-time card.
- Text or voice. You message it in one ongoing thread, typed or spoken.
Anthropic's early testers describe the proactive part as the point. Jess Provencher, broker and owner of Pro Homes, said Claude Duet flagged a property showing on her calendar for the wrong day: "exactly the kind of thing I want caught without having to ask". Brand strategist Mya Dalton, whose call with a potential client fell just before a flight, said: "I love that proactivity."
What Claude Duet cannot do yet
- You cannot choose a model, or watch or take over its browser.
- It checks your accounts at set intervals, so something urgent can arrive between checks.
- It cannot see files on your computer, make phone calls or text other people.
- Microsoft 365 is not available yet, and personal errands such as booking tickets "aren't quite as strong" as work tasks.
Can you get Claude Duet in the UK?
No. As of 23 October 2026, Claude Duet is a US-only research preview: Anthropic's Get started with Claude Duet article says you need a Pro or Max plan, "A Claude account in the US" and an invitation from the waitlist. Anthropic has given no UK date, and its Claude Duet pages do not mention the UK or Europe.
Invitations also "go out in waves", Team and Enterprise plans are not included yet, and access is tied to the email you gave on the waitlist. The announcement says Anthropic is "starting today with Pro and Max users in the US", but names no other countries.
This is a Claude Duet restriction, not a Claude one: Claude Pro and Max are sold here, and the UK is on Anthropic's supported regions list. Meta Muse (US, Canada and, from 23 October, Japan) and ChatGPT Dots on personal Pro plans, which OpenAI's help centre says exclude the UK, also skip British users.
Could you join with a VPN? I would not. The help article asks for a US Claude account, Anthropic's consumer terms tie use to its Supported Regions Policy, and Claude Duet would act on your real email and payment accounts.
What UK users can do now
- Claude's own agent features. On a UK Pro plan (£18 a month), Claude takes on longer tasks and, says Anthropic, "Scheduled tasks can run in the cloud, so they keep going when your computer is off" (help centre). This is the former Claude Cowork; see our Cowork review.
- Claude Code. Included with Pro, and better if your work involves code or files on your Mac. See Claude Code explained.
- OpenClaw on a Mac. A free, MIT-licensed assistant that runs on your own computer with Claude or a local model; its GitHub page says state, memory and credentials "live on your hardware". See our OpenClaw guide and private AI guide.
- A hosted agent sold here. Grok Bot costs from $30 a month (about £23) plus VAT, and ChatGPT Dots come with a ChatGPT Business Premium seat.
How much does Claude Duet cost?
Claude Duet has no separate price. During the research preview it is included with Claude Pro and Max "at no extra cost", according to Anthropic's help centre on 23 October 2026. In the US, Pro is $20 a month (about £15) and Max starts at $100 a month (about £75), before tax.
| Plan | US price | Rough pound equivalent | UK price today | Includes Claude Duet? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | £0 | £0 | No |
| Pro, monthly | $20 a month | about £15 | £18 a month, including VAT | Yes, in the US only |
| Pro, yearly | $200 a year ($17 a month) | about £150 a year | £180 a year (£15 a month), including VAT | Yes, in the US only |
| Max 5x | $100 a month | about £75 | From £90 a month, including VAT | Yes, in the US only |
| Max 20x | $200 a month | about £150 | Not shown separately | Yes, in the US only |
| Team and Enterprise | From $20 a seat a month | about £15 | From £18 a seat a month, including VAT | Not yet |
Prices are from Anthropic's pricing page and Max plan article, checked 23 October 2026. The US page says prices "don't include applicable tax"; UK visitors see "Prices include 20% VAT". Max web prices may differ from app store prices.
Costs to watch
- Usage limits. Claude Duet uses your five-hour and weekly limits "at the same rate as chats in Claude", and background work such as the morning brief counts too, "so you may reach your limits sooner".
- A one-off top-up. New users get one full limit reset, available until 30 November 2026.
- After the preview. Claude Duet is included "during the research preview"; Anthropic has not said what comes after.
VentureBeat summed up the price gap on 21 October: "Duet's $20 monthly entry point undercuts the $100 minimum individual Pro subscription for Dots, but Muse offers a free entry point."
Claude Duet vs ChatGPT Dots, Meta Muse and Grok Bot
Claude Duet costs nothing extra if you already pay $20 a month for Claude Pro, but for UK readers it is the hardest of these four agents to get. As of 23 October 2026, Grok Bot sells to UK individuals, ChatGPT Dots reach the UK only through a business seat, and Meta Muse, like Claude Duet, skips the UK.
| Claude Duet | ChatGPT Dots | Meta Muse | Grok Bot | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maker | Anthropic | OpenAI | Meta | SpaceXSI (formerly xAI) |
| Available in the UK | No, US only, by waitlist | Business Premium and Enterprise only; not personal Pro | No, US, Canada and Japan only | Yes, though tagging @bot on X is not offered here yet |
| Entry price | Claude Pro, $20 a month (about £15) | Pro from $100 (about £75) outside the UK; UK route is a Business Premium seat, $100 a month billed yearly (about £75), two-seat minimum | Free with limits; Power $20 a month (about £15) | X Subscription Premium, $30 a month (about £23) plus VAT |
| Where it runs | Anthropic's cloud; iPhone, Android and claude.ai | OpenAI's cloud; ChatGPT on web, desktop and mobile | Meta's cloud; phone, Mac, web and WhatsApp | A shared US cloud computer; desktop and mobile apps |
| What it can do | Morning brief, background tasks, 6,000+ connectors and plugins, purchases through Link or Shop Pay | Always-on agent with memory, its own cloud browser and 4,000+ apps through plugins | Errands such as email, bookings and shopping, with approval before sensitive steps | Named Bots that sign into your apps, run routines and work as a team |
| Best for | US professionals and small business owners already paying for Claude | UK teams already on ChatGPT Business | US and Canadian adults who want help with personal admin | UK freelancers and small teams who want a hosted agent now |
Prices and availability as of 23 October 2026; pound figures are rough conversions at $1 = £0.75. Dots, Muse and Grok Bot details come from our ChatGPT Dots, Meta Muse and Grok Bot guides, with eligibility and prices re-checked today against OpenAI, OpenAI Business, Meta and SpaceXSI.
Engadget called Claude Duet "Anthropic's answer to Meta Muse and OpenAI Dots", and CNBC said it "will likely challenge" them. The real difference is focus: Claude Duet is built for work, while Meta has marketed Muse to consumers and OpenAI's product "straddles both", as CNBC put it.
My pick for UK readers today: Grok Bot if you want a hosted agent now, Dots if your firm already pays for ChatGPT Business, and OpenClaw on a Mac if you want your data at home. If you already pay for Claude, use its scheduled tasks and wait for Claude Duet.
Is Claude Duet safe? Privacy, permissions and UK GDPR
Claude Duet has more guardrails than most agents, but it still reads your email, calendar and business apps. Anthropic says Claude Duet asks before it sends a message, makes a payment, signs a document or deletes anything, and keeps some actions off-limits even with approval. On 21 October 2026 Anthropic promised more safety detail "in the coming days".
- Approvals. It shows exactly what it is about to do and waits; trading securities, moving money between accounts and accessing someone else's account stay blocked even if you approve.
- Passwords. Anthropic says Claude Duet "never directly sees your passwords or sign-in tokens"; you type passwords into a separate form on your device.
- Sensitive data. A new classifier is designed to refuse to share card numbers and government ID, and health or finance details go out only when you explicitly say so.
- Prompt injection. Emails and web pages can hide instructions, and the help article admits "no defense is perfect".
- Memory. Disconnecting an app stops future access, but what it learned earlier is kept.
- Training. Anthropic's privacy policy says it may train on your chats "unless you opt out through your account settings"; the Claude Duet pages add nothing separate.
- Responsibility. The consumer terms say: "You are responsible for all Inputs you submit to our Services and all Actions."
The UK GDPR angle. Anthropic's privacy policy, effective 10 September 2026, names Anthropic Ireland, Limited as data controller for UK residents, sends data to US servers under UK adequacy rules or standard contractual clauses, and says you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office. Apps you connect get data under their own policies. On 8 October 2026 the ICO said it had made enquiries with OpenAI, Anthropic and Meta about agentic AI, and its call for evidence closes on 20 November 2026.
If you handle customer or staff data, read AI agents and UK GDPR first. When Claude Duet arrives, I would connect one app at a time, keep training off and check the Tasks tab daily for the first week.
What people say about Claude Duet on Reddit and X
Reactions to Claude Duet on Reddit and X, gathered on 23 October 2026, two days after launch, are user opinions rather than tested facts. Most people quoted here have not used Claude Duet, because it is a waitlisted US preview, so the comments are about price, access and trust rather than performance.
- On price: "So Dots, but not needing a Max/Ultra plan for once." - a user in r/singularity, October 2026 thread
- On fitting in with Claude: "I love that they released this especially since I'm almost exclusively working with the Anthropic ecosystem." - a user in r/Anthropic, October 2026 thread
- On proactivity: "Why I think it's the most proactive agent" - one of the points in Peter Yang's (@petergyang) video review on X; he said he had early access, 21 October 2026 post
- On the US-only launch: "Claude Duet is ONLY available for pro users IN THE US???? !!!" - one user on X, 21 October 2026 post
- On privacy: one user did not want to "expose all my personal data to these AI companies", adding: "I want something local but the hardware to do it is just too expensive now." - a user in r/singularity, October 2026 thread
- On getting in: "They only tell you later it has to be the same one you use with google play." - a user in r/Anthropic, on the waitlist email, October 2026 thread
The praise is mostly about price and convenience for people already paying for Claude; the complaints cluster around the US-only launch, sign-up friction and how much personal data an always-on agent needs. The automated summary at the top of an r/ClaudeAI launch thread said many power users were dismissive, as they already do this with scheduled tasks and Claude Code, while others replied that Claude Duet is meant for non-technical users; it also noted worries about usage limits.
How many people can use Claude Duet?
No public figure shows how many people use Claude Duet. As of 23 October 2026 it is a waitlisted research preview for US Pro and Max subscribers, and Anthropic has published no sign-up, waitlist or user number. The clearest public signal is attention: Anthropic's launch post on X had 9.2 million views two days after launch.
| Measure | Figure | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Views of the @claudeai launch post on X | 9.2 million | 23 October 2026 | X |
| Likes and replies on that post | 53,917 likes, 2,262 replies | 23 October 2026 | X embed data |
| Hacker News discussion of the product page | 550 points, 521 comments | 23 October 2026 | Hacker News |
| Views of Anthropic's launch video | 858,773 | 23 October 2026 | YouTube |
| Anthropic business customers spending over $1 million a year | More than 1,000 | 6 April 2026 | Anthropic |
| Anthropic run-rate revenue | Crossed $47 billion | Stated 28 May 2026 | Anthropic |
I could not find any Anthropic figure for total Claude users or Pro and Max subscribers. Its stated numbers are business ones, not Claude Duet users. A second Hacker News post, of the announcement, reached 92 points.
The rivals launched earlier and wider. Mark Zuckerberg told analysts on 21 October that more than 10 million people in the US and Canada "have set up Muse personal agents" (CNBC), and SpaceX's Gwynne Shotwell said Grok Bot had 800,000 paid weekly users earlier this month (CNBC).
Frequently asked questions
What is Claude Duet?
Claude Duet is Anthropic's proactive AI agent app, launched as a research preview on 21 October 2026. It sends you a morning brief, watches your connected apps and works on tasks in its own cloud computer. It runs on Claude Opus 5.5 and asks before it sends messages, pays, signs documents or deletes anything.
Can I use Claude Duet in the UK?
No, not yet. As of 23 October 2026, Claude Duet is only for Pro and Max subscribers in the US, through a waitlist, and Anthropic has given no UK date. Claude itself, including Pro and Max, does work in the UK, so you can use its scheduled tasks and Claude Code while you wait.
How much does Claude Duet cost?
Claude Duet costs nothing extra if you have Claude Pro or Max in the US. Pro is $20 a month (about £15) and Max starts at $100 (about £75), before tax. In the UK, Pro is £18 a month and Max from £90, including VAT, but neither includes Claude Duet here yet. Duet also eats into your plan's usage limits.
How do I join the Claude Duet waitlist?
Go to Anthropic's Claude Duet product page and select Join the waitlist. You give your name, the email on your Claude account, your plan and whether you use an iPhone or Android phone. Invitations go out in waves, you need a US Claude account, and access is tied to that email, so it must match the Apple or Google account on your phone.
Claude Duet vs ChatGPT Dots: which is better?
For UK readers, ChatGPT Dots wins by default: a ChatGPT Business Premium seat gets you a dot, while Claude Duet is not available here. In the US, Claude Duet is cheaper, because it comes with the $20 Claude Pro plan, while personal Dots need ChatGPT Pro from $100 a month. Claude Duet is built mainly for work tasks.
Is Claude Duet safe to use?
Claude Duet has strong guardrails, but it still reads your email and business apps. It asks before sending, paying, signing or deleting, never directly sees your passwords, and refuses to trade securities or move money between accounts even with approval. Anthropic admits it can be misled by prompt injection and can misjudge what is urgent, so check every draft and approval.
What can I use instead of Claude Duet in the UK?
The closest option for Claude users is Claude itself on a Pro plan, which can run scheduled tasks in the cloud while your computer is off. Grok Bot is sold in the UK from $30 a month plus VAT, and ChatGPT Dots come with a Business Premium seat. To keep your data on your own Mac, try OpenClaw, which is free and open source.
Is Claude Duet the same as the claude-duet tool on GitHub?
No. The claude-duet project on GitHub (EliranG/claude-duet) is an unrelated open-source tool that lets two developers share one Claude Code session in real time. It is not made by Anthropic and has nothing to do with the Claude Duet agent app. Anthropic's app lives at claude.com/product/claude-duet.
Read next
- ChatGPT Dots: OpenAI's always-on agent and the UK
- Meta Muse: what Meta's AI agent does, and why you can't get it in the UK yet
- Grok Bot UK guide: price in pounds, setup and safety
- Personal AI assistants in the UK compared
- Claude Cowork review: pricing, pros, cons and UK fit
- OpenClaw explained: the free AI agent you run yourself, set up on a Mac with a local model
Sources
- Introducing Claude Duet, Anthropic: launch date, description, Opus 5.5, 6,000+ connectors, safety design, tester quotes, limitations - checked 23 October 2026
- Claude Duet product page, Anthropic: US-only Pro and Max availability, platforms, FAQ wording - checked 23 October 2026
- Get started with Claude Duet, Claude Help Center: who can get access, US-only rule, waitlist steps, limitations, usage limits, limit reset, privacy and approvals - checked 23 October 2026
- Claude pricing, Anthropic (US and UK views): Pro and Max prices in dollars and pounds, tax and VAT notes, Cowork merge banner, model training opt-out - checked 23 October 2026
- What is the Max plan?, Claude Help Center: Max 5x and Max 20x US prices, monthly billing, web-only pricing note - checked 23 October 2026
- What is the Pro plan?, Claude Help Center: Pro price and local currency note - checked 23 October 2026
- Claude Cowork and chat are one Claude, Claude Help Center: scheduled tasks running in the cloud - checked 23 October 2026
- Supported regions, Anthropic: UK listed as a supported region for Claude - checked 23 October 2026
- Privacy Policy, Anthropic: UK data controller, US transfers, ICO complaints, training opt-out, connectors - checked 23 October 2026
- Consumer Terms of Service, Anthropic: responsibility for Actions, liability cap, Supported Regions Policy - checked 23 October 2026
- Introducing Claude Duet, Claude on YouTube: official video, length and view count - checked 23 October 2026
- Claude Duet announcement, @claudeai on X: post text, views, likes and replies - checked 23 October 2026
- Claude Duet, Hacker News: points and comments on the product page submission - checked 23 October 2026
- Claude Duet announcement, Hacker News: points on the announcement submission - checked 23 October 2026
- Anthropic expands Google and Broadcom compute deal, Anthropic: more than 1,000 business customers spending over $1 million a year - checked 23 October 2026
- Anthropic raises $65B Series H, Anthropic: run-rate revenue above $47 billion - checked 23 October 2026
- ICO secures changes from leading AI developers as scrutiny extends to AI agents, ICO: enquiries with Anthropic, call for evidence deadline - checked 23 October 2026
- Claude Duet app is Anthropic's bet on agents, TechCrunch: report confirming Opus 5.5, 6,000+ connectors and the waitlist - checked 23 October 2026
- Anthropic announces preview of Claude Duet, CNBC: rival framing and Meta's 10 million Muse figure - checked 23 October 2026
- Claude Duet is Anthropic's answer to Meta Muse and OpenAI Dots, Engadget: press framing - checked 23 October 2026
- Anthropic's answer to Muse is here: Claude Duet, VentureBeat: price comparison with Dots and Muse - checked 23 October 2026
- SpaceX gives the AI trade a shot in the arm, CNBC: Grok Bot paid weekly users - checked 23 October 2026
- Getting started with your dot, OpenAI Help Center: Dots eligibility and UK exclusion on Pro - checked 23 October 2026
- ChatGPT Business overview, OpenAI Help Center: Business Premium seat price and two-seat minimum - checked 23 October 2026
- About Muse subscriptions, Meta Help Center: Muse plan prices and location rule - checked 23 October 2026
- Pricing, SpaceXSI: X Subscription prices that include Grok Bot, VAT exclusion - checked 23 October 2026
- OpenClaw on GitHub: MIT licence, runs on your own computer, local models - checked 23 October 2026
- claude-duet on GitHub (EliranG): the unrelated shared Claude Code session tool - checked 23 October 2026
- Anthropic unveils Claude Duet, r/singularity: user comments - checked 23 October 2026
- Anthropic just responded to the Muses, Bots and Dots with Claude Duet, r/Anthropic: user comments - checked 23 October 2026
- Claude Duet: Anthropic just casually dropped the personal assistant, r/ClaudeAI: thread summary - checked 23 October 2026
- Peter Yang on X: early-access review points - checked 23 October 2026
- Post on X about US-only access: user reaction - checked 23 October 2026
- Alexandr Wang on X: Muse launching in Japan - checked 23 October 2026
